第23部分(第2/7 頁)

om　the　teeth　in　a　kind　of　desperate　sneer。　Then　his　teeth　parted；　too；　and　he　exhaled　a　cloud　of　tiny　black　insects　that　looked　like　gnats　or　noseeums。　They　swirled　furiously　between　his　knees；　turned　white；　and　disappeared。

Suddenly　all　the　strength　went　out　of　my　middsection。　It　was　as　if　the　muscles　there　had　turned　to　water。　I　slumped　back　against　the　stone　side　of　Coffey's　cell。　I　remember　thinking　the　name　of　the　Savior　…　Christ；　Christ；　Christ；　over　and　over；　like　that　…　and　I　remember　thinking　that　the　fever　had　driven　me　delirious。　That　was　all。

Then　I　became　aware　that　Delacroix　was　bawling　for　help；　he　was　telling　the　world　that　John　Coffey　was　killing　me；　and　telling　it　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　Coffey　was　bending　over　me；　all　right；　but　only　to　make　sure　I　was　okay。

〃Shut　up；　Del；〃　I　said；　and　got　on　my　feet。　I　waited　for　the　pain　to　rip　into　my　guts；　but　it　didn't　happen。　I　was　better。　Really。　There　was　a　moment　of　dizziness；　but　that　passed　even　before　I　was　able　to　reach　out　and　grab　the　bars　of　Coffey's　cell　door　for　balance。　〃I'm　totally　okey…doke。〃

〃You　get　on　outta　here；〃　Delacroix　said；　sounding　like　a　nervy　old　woman　telling　a　kid　to　climb　down　out　of　that…ere　apple　tree。　〃You　ain't　suppose　to　be　in　there　wit　no　one　else　on　the　block。〃

I　looked　at　John　Coffey；　who　sat　on　the　bunk　with　his　huge　hands　on　the　tree　stumps　of　his　knees。　John　Coffey　looked　back　at　me。　He　had　to　tilt　his　head　up　a　little；　but　not　much。

〃What　did　you　do；　big　boy？〃　I　asked　in　a　low　voice。　〃What　did　you　do　to　me？〃

〃Helped；〃　he　said。　〃I　helped　it；　didn't　I？〃

〃Yeah；　I　guess；　but　how？　How　did　you　help　it？〃

He　shook　his　head　…　right；　left；　back　to　dead　center。　He　didn't　know　how　he'd　helped　it　（how　he'd　cured　it）　and